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Weaponsmithing usually require a forge and smithing equipment. But if the PC has accessto those and you think he or she should be able to make one, sure why not. You can also ask an ability check against a DC if you want it to be rolled. 

If its mundane item, i'd wouldn't sweat it though and just handwave it and say yes.

Jan 31, 2013 -- 9:29PM, KaityS wrote:

She is wanting to make a bow out of bones found in one of our encounters...I know she dosn't have the forge nad smithing equipment so I guess I will have to explain her need to get ahold of them....Thank you so much for the reply...

Okay, and here is where we come to the real questions. It sounds like you are both dancing around something, and don't know how to ask the right questions.

What does she want the bow to do?

Is she looking for some magical or quasi magical effect by using the bones she has selected? If she is looking for a particular enchantment, then you can make that the focus of your next adventure (yes the bones may be used to make such a bow, but they must be specially treated first in the blood of...)

Jan 31, 2013 -- 10:40PM, KaityS wrote:

There is nothing special she wants the bow to do...I think her point is instead of buying a bow rom a "shop" she could make one...they are just dragon bones found in a cavern....nothing special about them at all...

Then there is no harm in simply letting her do it. The cost of mundane equipment is negligible for an adventurer after their first foray. If you and she think it would be unsatisfying for you to simply say "well then, you now have a fine dragonbone bow," you can always complicate it up a bit. Have her consult with a nearby sage or bowyer, who will recommend she treat the bones with a particular herb or oil t make the bones supple enough to be used as a bow (the cost of said herbs and oils, coincidentally, would be the same as if she had bought a new bow), and you are good to go.

Later on, you could always immerse the bow into a faerie pool, or dragon's blood, or medusa venom to give it the properties of whatever magical equipment she would like to have to fill out her character concept.

I agree with what has already been said; if she just wants a bow that has the fluff of being made out of bones; I don’t see any reason she can’t have it.

It won’t break or overpower anything, and really is just a RolePlaying method to save her a few coins and have a cool looking weapon; and I am always in favor of Role Playing.

Feb 1, 2013 -- 10:14AM, Felorn wrote:

Feb 1, 2013 -- 10:07AM, CliveDauthi wrote:

I agree with what has already been said; if she just wants a bow that has the fluff of being made out of bones; I don’t see any reason she can’t have it.

It won’t break or overpower anything, and really is just a RolePlaying method to save her a few coins and have a cool looking weapon; and I am always in favor of Role Playing.

Hate to break it to you but acquiring a new weapon that looks different isn't roleplaying. 

But anyways there is some 4e crunch on making weapons that everyone overlooks. Check in a book called Martial Power 2. There are these things called martial practices that act like rituals for martial characters. They require a feat to be take (Practiced Study), but they allow charatcers to learn things like, Forge Weapon, Forge Armor, Fortify Beast, Temporary Fix, Master Artisan, etc.

I guess that’s what you consider Role Playing.

I see it as RP due to the fact that the player is trying to take items they found in game, and use them in a way which isn’t strictly explained by the rules.  I guess it comes down to, do you consider Fluff as part of RPing.

I do, and I see this as just that, fluff. You have a player who wants a cool looking bow, but doesn’t want any bonuses or magic abilities attached, so it’s really just a common bow that has a different skin pasted onto it, and as stated above, the fact they want a cool looking mundane item means they are not “getting ahead” a lot by saving only a few coins.

I’d just give the player a DC check and if they pass it let them have it, and praise them for thinking OUTSIDE the box and not just going and paying X-coins for something mundane.